From House to Home and Everything In Between

Friday, June 15, 2012

So this morning I am being 'good me' and so I walked the dog. Tony was being 'regular' (stubborn) Tony so he decided, when the walk was almost through, as a matter of fact we were on an extra part of our walk, to cop a squat. So he sprawled out on the neighbors' tree lawn. Tony wouldn't budge. Minutes went by. Tony dug in his heels. Did I mention this was while the neighbors had their sprinkler on? And did I also mention he was under the stream of water? Yeah, sissy-boy was just hanging out, taking a shower. I finally was able to force him to move, which he immediately regretted. He tried to pull me back in the direction of the outdoor shower. I offered him a bath at home. I think I heard him scoff at me.

wet dog

When I finally dragged his scrawny wet butt in the door he rolled all over my pretty wood floors. Thanks, dog! The whole house smells lovely now. Lucky for puppy-pants, some geniuses invented Febreeze years ago. I'm off to buy the dog his own waterpark, since our very own lawn is being seeded today!

Don't be fooled - this little dog makes my heart happy, even when he's being a full-on knucklehead.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Birthday parties are exhausting, especially when you have a pink, spotted belly.

The morning after the party, where the eating happened. I think in the future we will move the sofas to the front of the house and bring tables all the way from the kitchen to the fireplace. It feels great to have everyone eating in the same room.

And now it is time to put the clean sheets back on the guest bed. I need maids.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

I had overnight guests in the evolving guest room last night. They loved it! That's a really nice comfy bed in there, this I know. But the thing they said that made me smile was "We felt like you really understand us. It's the candy."

Hooray for me, I knew I had a winner when I put an assortment of candies in the guest room!

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Oh Ray Bradbury, I was thinking about you all day yesterday. This morning my husband tells me you have left this place. We are so fortunate to have met you. Thank you for not having me arrested. You have left quite a legacy here for us, and we will treasure it and carefully pass it on. Rest in peace, dear one.

Sunday, June 3, 2012

I've been inspired by quite a few people who know how to make guests feel at home. We have stayed in nice hotels we never wanted to leave. I understand the importance of a decent pillow and comfy sheets. But what does it really take, besides a bed in a separate room, to make a really nice guest room?

I've been reading articles and looking at pictures at Houzz.com for inspiration. I know to have a bedside table with a lamp, a clock, something to drink, and a little catch-all for jewelry. Fresh flowers are nice, a robe and slippers are really nice, and a little basket of toiletries is lovely. It also keeps you from rummaging through your linen closet while your guests stands there waiting - awkward.

I think I'm going for 'Charming' in the guest room. I already have an old bed, a hand-me-down quilt, sheer window treatments, an old typewriter, and an antique bedside table in the room. While I sit here, really thinking about it, it's a hearts and flowers room. Heart shaped sheet music garland drapes a mirror. A floral fabric pennant hangs in one window, while some floral fabric acts as a sort of valance in the other. I guess I'll go with the hearts and flowers in there, since it's already on the way. I already have plenty I can add to the room if I keep that motif.

I have a little vintage desk in there, with the old typewriter and a matching style mirror on it. It can act as a writing desk or dressing table. There is a pretty carafe on the bedside table - a gift from my friend Lindsay. A vintage alarm clock is on the table as well, which tick-tocks rather loudly, but has a reliable bell for an alarm.

For me, standing in the space doesn't work as well as taking pictures to see what's right and wrong with the room. Anyone know why that is? I'm sharing a few pictures I just took of the work-in-progress and I'm taking any/all hints, tips and suggestions. Don't worry about being kind, I don't expect you to have the sentimental attachment I do to any of the pieces.

The guest room at the top of the stairs

The bed faces the desk, which can also do dressing table duty.

From the desk you can see the closet.

From the bed you see the windows and desk.

My hands were shaking like crazy so the pictures are bad, but I can't do it any better right now. This is a 'you get the idea' type of thing, okay?

So tell me... what are you doing in your guest room? What ideas do you have to share with me?

Friday, June 1, 2012

People who know me can hardly believe I was at "The Mall" yesterday because, well, I loathe shopping malls. They're so disappointing. What happened to malls where you could roam freely? Instead, I feel like I am at a carnival full of seedy drifters, all of them calling out to me from their booths, aggressively trying to pull me in to their assorted livelihoods. It's really anything but charming, and I resent it. I have no need for knock-off sunglasses, brittle iPhone covers, things my boys could fly about the house, or $300 flattening irons. If I do want to buy giant character slippers or sea salt scrub, I'm sure I can find these things through conventional shopping methods.

Shopping in a mall just isn't what it used to be. There are no more gift shops, no more record stores, no more baked potato bar. It makes me sigh - and miss the 80's. Remember when the whole walkway in the mall was empty space to take up with a gaggle of your girlfriends and giggle about what boys you just saw? When you could rock your new raspberry scented Swatch watch and you wouldn't wave your arm and hit someone trying to coerce you into letting them 'thread' your brows because there was no such thing as threading your brows? Yeah, me too.

So I went to the mall yesterday because I needed my makeup, and Lancome is in gift time at Macys. When all the planets align in this way, I go to the mall. It happens once, maybe twice a year. Honest to God, I can not remember the last time I went to the mall - I think it was September, and I had to make a run to Aeropostale for jeans for #5. I almost made it to June, people. One more day and I would have made it to June.

The mall offered a back-to-the future type surprise for me, because Taco Bell was reinstated in the food court, after quite a few years of banishment. Makes me wonder if McDonalds will be next. There was also a Burger joint where the fish joint used to be. A bunch of stores were moved around and I saw the place with the ugly cupcakes, which had taken over the spot where they used to sell the not-so-great cookies, which before that was a Godiva I am still grieving - was replaced by an Aveda! We now have about 19 places in the mall to purchase beauty products. More if you count the little carnival booths in the walkways.

My point, if I ever had one, was this: The mall was chock full of surprises for me yesterday. The best one was at a place called Yankee Candles. If you don't have one, it's a place where they sell overpriced candles and lots of people buy them because they can. Well guess what your house can smell like now, thanks to the geniuses who obviously ran over from the genius bar at the Apple store across the hall? Now, and I can't even type this without chuckling to myself, they sell "Man Candles."

Here, for your pleasure, is a preview of the Man Candles:

Man Candles: Man Town, 2x4, Riding Mower & First Down

Man Candles, In case the scent names aren't enough, you see a remote and masking tape and a clipboard with kisses and hugs drawn on it.

A person couldn't make this stuff up, it's just that good. Now, who wants to know what "Man Town" smells like? I was a little afraid. But if I hear news it's a combo of wet dog, dial soap, and chips and salsa with a tinge of bacon I will not be all that surprised.